more on food

So I was frustrated that some of what Barbara Kingsolver says in her latest book, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, because it's not practical for those of us who have to work to know where all our food comes from. Then she hooked me on the thought of making cheese. I mean, I've made crummy fresh cheese that goes in a crummy saag paneer recipe, but I found a place to buy that not far from my office. But now I'm intrigued by the thought of making cheese at home. Maybe I can get B to help me.
I now have a signature dessert -- lemon mousse, from Ray's Boathouse Cookbook. Yum! G made a great cole slaw from it, with cabbage, bean sprouts, green beans, and a wasabi-flavored sauce. Yum yum!

first week-end of summer?

A productive week-end -- Memorial Day, three days -- but not how I hope the summer will go...
Saturday we had committed to working in the yard. It felt good, weeding, planting rhubarb, transplanting other plants. G. put new steps in to the back porch. He said it's odd to work hard to make something look just like it did before (without the insect damage).
Sunday we planned to go for a nice walk with friends, but the weather gods did not agree. So we spent the day sealing and polishing our counters. Not exciting at all. But it was good to see how much better that 2ce yearly job could be with the two of us working together. In the background was "the greatest spectacle in racing," Indy 500. There was rain there too. And the Mariners game. Rain there too.
Yesterday we did more projects around here for the morning, then bought a lot of fabric on sale for a new quilt for our bedroom, then met B at the ferry dock from camp. A nice walk through one park, then to a good Mexican restaurant for an early dinner. No International Film Festival films that interested us, so we found another film that could well have been shown there -- Ping Pong. And I learned the difference between manga, based on a Japanese comic book, and anime, animated version. This was the former.

So, what I would like for my summer, some feelings of accomplishment and creativity, movies, time with people I care about, outdoor time. What I would like that this week-end did not include: more physical activity, and more time with friends. I can make that happen. What I would also like: more sunshine. Global warming, aka catastrophic climate change, seems to be taking care of that.

New foodie book

Barbara Kingsolver has just published a book called Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. I've just started reading it and am already captured by her wonderful writing style. It's about how she and her family moved to family property in the Appalachians and ate only local food for a year. I read a review of it, and the only complaint was that they are a wealthy family who could do things most folks can't. Then I heard an interview with Kingsolver, and the interviewer asked her what they did when the year was up. She tried to explain that this was not just a stunt, but a lifestyle change -- they have continued to eat the healthy way they adopted.
I still can't imagine giving up bananas...

list update

16. Salvage and plant the vegetable garden. I bought rhubarb plants. It's a start...
26. Read or listen to the Bible. I'm listening to the New Testament in a version called the The Bible Experience. It's all done by African American actors, some I can recognize (Samuel Jackson as God). Horribly over-produced (e.g, the text says, "The people were afraid" and you hear people in the background saying "I'm afraid.") I'm up to Luke. But I think I need a break. I won't get through it all before it's due back at the library anyway. So I'll have to check it out again. And again. The Old Testament comes out in the fall.
41. Participate in community-supported agriculture. I've signed up for a regular share at The Root Connection in Redmond. Their sample boxes included kohlrabi -- I have no idea what to do with that. I guess I'll learn...
70. Do a blog. When do I get to say I'm doing that?? I think I've figured out links, although someone will have to tell me if they really take you where I think I'm sending you...

#101?

Can I add one more? If I did, it would be belly-dancing. Seriously...
Saturday before last we (people from EUUC who took OB's Balkan dancing class) went to a Greek restaurant, Georgia's, in Seattle that featured live music and dancing. We knew there was going to be another large party there -- I envisioned people of Greek heritage who wanted to dance. Wrong -- it was a retirement party for someone. A few of them did get up and dance. The music was fun, although they kept playing one style of song so we danced the same moves a lot. But given the size of the dance floor, we couldn't move a lot. On the band's breaks, a belly dancer appeared. Clothed in long drapey clothes, which she removed during the second song each time to reveal an outfit that revealed her belly. It was impressive to see how she could move, very lovely. During the third song, her male companion put a dollar bill in the waist of her outfit. Some of the women I was with said they'd never done that before. From their discomfort, it was clear that some of the men hadn't either. Anyway, we enjoyed watching her enough that several of use decided we would love to learn how to belly-dance. (But not out in public!)
Good food, but nothing in comparison to my favorite, Hoda's, in Portland.

kitchen bible

I just got my copy of Bittman's book -- in paperback, as a way to use up what I need to get cheap through the book club -- getting out of it would simplify my life (what, that's not on my list??).
So what recipes do you recommend?

The list

So, as part of a mentoring program at church, both youth and adults were encouraged to develop a list of 100 things they want to do in their lives. It's taken me several months to create the list, and then refine it, (e.g, combining "float down the Snake River" and "float down the Colorado River" into one item, and then I had room to add one more thing), but now I am ready to commit to it.
Calling them goals seems too weighty, like I would have to work toward them. Some of them I will have to, including learning to cook creme brule and attend more poetry readings. Some will be lifestyle changes, in particular being more organized. And even with this start, I don't think I can cross 70 off the list yet. But I am starting!

MY 100

1. Trek to Nepal.
2. Hike in New Zealand
3. Explore Prague with someone who can highlight its history.
4. Be more organized.
5. Finish projects regularly.
6. Master Spanish.
7. Meet Johnny Depp.
8. Go in the Peace Corps or a similar international effort.
9. Lessen my fear of heights.
10. Be a better sailor.
11. Learn sign language.
12. Be a grandparent – a good one.
13. Take a long bicycle trip.
14. Retire.
15. Be comfortable with my hair turning grey.
16. Salvage and plant the vegetable garden.
17. Grow more flowers.
18. Know and apply interior design principles (and re-do the living room).
19. Develop a skill more useful in developing societies – and use it.
20. Better sewing – appliqué.
21. Go up in a hot air balloon.
22. Explore China.
23. Go to London for history and plays.
24. Go to Iceland – and nature..
25. Learn to play the harmonica.
26. Read (or listen to) the Bible.
27. Be part of a neighborhood group.
28. More kayaking (including an overnight).
29. See a Broadway play on Broadway.
30. Snorkel in Belize.
31. Learn to make crème brulee.
32. Explore Turkey.
33. Explore the Queen Charlottes.
34. Learn more about Buddhism.
35. Read the Qu’ran.
36. Be on the board of a non-profit – other than EUUC.
37. Be more involved in a political campaign.
38. Eat more organically.
39. Make 1000 paper cranes.
40. Learn to make tamales.
41. Participate in community-supported agriculture.
42. Go to Italy – art and history.
43. Go on a safari in East Africa.
44. Learn to play the piano better.
45. Volunteer in some capacity with animals.
46. Go to a spa.
47. Volunteer with stream planting.
48. Volunteer with trail maintenance.
49. Volunteer tutoring.
50. Teach a child to knit.
51. Express appreciation more.
52. Be more reflective.
53. Try improv.
54. Make more interesting clothing (quilted – wearable art).
55. Do better embroidery.
56. Go to a Vegas-type show.
57. Go to Yellowstone in the winter.
58. Learn about digital photography.
59. Learn to make bagels.
60. Learn to make good saag paneer.
61. Go to Fiji.
62. Enter a quilt in a show.
63. Do something new with someone new every year.
64. Learn Tai Chi.
65. Go to a high school reunion – if they have any more.
66. Learn about bicycle maintenance.
67. Go to Cabo San Lucas/Gulf of California.
68. Read more good magazines, e.g., at the library.
69. Learn to make sock monkeys or other animals.
70. Do a blog.
71. Understand our personal finances.
72. Learn to cross-country skate-ski.
73. Visit the Burgess Shale.
74. Learn to accessorize.
75. Float down the Snake River and/or the Colorado River.
76. Visit all 50 states (Delaware and West Virginia to go).
77. Grow an herb garden.
78. Go to a Daily Show taping.
79. Take a jewelry-making class.
80. Take a glass art class.
81. Never pass up an opportunity to ride a carousel.
82. Learn to use free weights.
83. Charter a sailboat somewhere else in the world.
84. Learn more about World History (not from an American perspective.)
85. Attend more poetry readings.
86. Do the Seattle International Film Festival.
87. Write a credo or “This I Believe” statement.
88. Learn continental knitting.
89. Have a make-over.
90. Lessen our global footprint.
91. Buy no new yarn for a year.
92. Write a “novel in November.”
93. Read more prize-winning nonfiction (e.g., National Book Awards).
94. Be more intentional in my/our charitable contributions.
95. Go to more symphony performances.
96. Ride a Segway.
97. Learn more about geology.
98. Bring more beauty into my life.
99. Maintain a sense of wonder.
100. Explore other peoples’ passions (e.g., Sunday suppers).